County deserved more points says Rhodes

FRUSTRATED Steve Rhodes felt his side were hard done by in only taking one point more than Kent from the two sides’ rain-ravaged LV= County Championship Division Two game at Tunbridge Wells.

No play was possible on yesterday’s final day, which left Worcestershire stranded on 67-0 in reply to the hosts’ first innings 258 all out.

The County took eight points to close the gap to four on Division Two leaders Hampshire, but the elements denied them the possibility of far greater rewards.

“The draw was incredibly frustrating,” fumed Rhodes. “I am not allowed to criticise umpiring decisions, or groundstaff or ground conditions, so I won’t do that.

“It’s just sad that we were all over Kent, but we came away with eight points and they took seven. In my view, there was a chance we could have got out there to play yesterday, but I am not prepared to criticise any umpiring decision or groundstaff workings.”

The New Road director of cricket added: “We can take so much out of the first day of the game – the wicket was flat and we lost the toss, but we started so well by making Daniel Bell-Drummond and Robert Key play a hell of a lot.

“We got the rewards with a couple of early wickets and we kept working hard, so all the bowlers bowled extremely well.

“Joe Leach took five wickets, but everyone was very much part of the unit and Saeed Ajmal did a great job. Most importantly for me, we fielded out of our skins – we saved 55 runs in the field in one innings, which is an amazing effort.

“The way we then set about chasing their score down and looking to get a lead was outstanding from Daryl Mitchell and Matt Pardoe.”